Does a website need a privacy policy?

by 14 replies
16
Specifically if you're selling something?

What if you don't come into contact with any credit card #s or anything during the purchase (paypal) ?

Do I still need one?
#website design #policy #privacy #website
  • Preferable to add one would be better. Although you are not dealing with credit cards, or paypal, it will still look professional to give visitors some common guidelines of an online business site. For example:

    1) Collecting their email addresses for subscription. How do you collect information on your site, and do you share it with third-party.

    2) The publication of your site is copyright and cannot be duplicated or published without the consent of the author.

    3) Your site business operation is govern by which country and state law.

    4) How to use and not abuse using your site.

    So on so forth. Just go to a few of your competitors' site and check theirs out. Copy and modify to make it your own. Good luck.
  • If you use Google Adsense, you must have one. Beginning this week, Google even has certain language you must use on your privacy page.
  • If you are not going to resell information or do any funny stuff, let your users know. Privacy policies are readily available on the net, so one shouldn't be too hard to find.
  • i would check with your local laws, or look at your local competition on the net - do they have one?
  • Depends on your our site business operation is govern by which country and state law
  • Yes you must include a privacy policy to make your website ethical and to meet all standards. Plus, if you have adsense on your sites, now Google is requiring you to add a privacy policy to your site. Iyt does not matter what you are selling, or even if you are not offering anything for purchase, you need a privacy policy. You can Google privacy policy templates and choose one that fits your website or edit it to fit.

    The Freelance Squad
    • [1] reply
    • It takes about 3 minutes to put up a privacy policy. Why even question it?Like Nike says: Just do it.
  • I would recommend that you get one. It's for your sake.
  • Yes surely a webiste needs to have a privacy legal policy...
  • Not sure wether it's true or not but I also read somewhere that you'll get paid more per click on your adsense ads if you have a privacy policy/T&Cs/contact us links at the bottom of each page.
    • [1] reply
    • Yes, and it affects your quality score so it will probably also affect the $/click you pay for adwords as well.

      And as others have said, Google now requires a privacy policy with a particular phrasing added if you are hosting adsense ads anywhere on your site. As I recall, it is because of geo-tracking.

      Also, I believe some browsers consider lack of a privacy policy in deciding if a site is flagged as "Un-Trusted".

      Lots of reasons to have one ... I can't think of a reason to avoid one.

      The only downside to having one is that you must decide on what to put in it, and then you are committed to following it ... but, you can change it at any time, just remember to document when and what you changed (just save a dated old copy each time you edit it).

      Just make it simple to start with ... you do or don't share customer personal contact information (name/address/email/phone) with anyone and under what conditions, unsubscribe here, contact us here, terms here, etc... You can always add to it later.

      Kevin
  • Yea, it's really important legally if you are using your website for commercial use.
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  • I think this should come as standard to most websites.
  • It is imperative that you have a Privacy Policy especially when you have Ecommerce on your site. If you collect any type of information on your site & that information comes from anyone else, you MUST have a privacy policy.

    This is basic stuff that's taught in not only Business Law in schools but also Ecommerce Law & policy.

    For example, even if you put a plugin, script or widget on your site, which collects & disseminates ANY type of information from the net to your computer, you must provide a Privacy Policy.
    People must know what if anything you plan on doing with the information you have, if you plan do to any business.
    Essentially, any ecommerce based site should have the following items that you should have on your site is:
    1. Privacy Policy.
    2. DMCA Notice
    3. Support page -- which someone is able to contact you (because your privacy policy stated it has one)
    4. Terms of Service
    5. Disclaimer
    6. Earnings Disclaimer
    (Note: A Disclaimer & Earnings Disclaimer are two seperate items. )

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